Electric window operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

An electric window operating mechanism, for example for use on a road vehicle, comprises a worm and worm wheel speed reducer, the worm being connected to an electric drive motor, an operating axle of the mechanism extends through the worm wheel and a member is slideable along the axle by an auxiliary handle to de-clutch the speed reducer to enable the axle to be rotated and thus the window operated, by rotation of the handle in the event of breakdown of the electric drive, said member can be the worm wheel itself or can be separate therefrom.

Boyiiven [111 3,742,781 [451 July 3,1973

[ 1 ELECTRIC WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Paul Boyriven,Paris, France [73] Assignee: 'Compagnie Industrielle De Mecanismes,Courbevoie, France ['22] Filed: Oct. 1 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 185,609

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,771,789 1 1/1956 Rossmann et a174/625 2,772,578 12/1956 Kling 74/625 3,372,607 3/1968 Lathrop et a1.74/625 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 783,432 4/1935 France 74/625Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant ExaminerWesley S. Ratliff,Jr. Attorney-Raymond A. Robic [5 7] ABSTRACT An electric windowoperating mechanism, for example for use on a road vehicle, comprises aworm and worm wheel speed reducer, the worm being connected to anelectric drive motor, an operating axle of the mechanism extends throughthe worm wheel and a member is slideable along the axle by an auxiliaryhandle to declutch the speed reducer to enable the axle to be r0- tatedand thus the window operated, by rotation of the handle in the event ofbreakdown of the electric drive, said member can be the worm wheelitself or can be separate therefrom.

11 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISM Thisinvention relates to an electric window operating mechanism used, forexample, for raising and lowering a window of a road vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric windowoperating mechanism which can be operated manually upon, for example,breakdown of the usual electric drive thereof.

Accordingly the invention provides an electric window operatingmechanism comprising a speed reducer in the form ofa worm and wormwheel, an axle co-axial with the worm wheel and a member rotatablyconnected to the axle but slideable therealong, against the influence ofa spring, to de-clutch the speed reducer to allow manual rotation of theaxle in the event, for example, of breakdown of the usual electric driveof the mechanism.

Preferably said member is the worm wheel itself and can be slid alongthe axle out of meshing relation with the worm to effect thede-clutching.

Alternatively the worm wheel has arcuate shaped teeth on its peripheryand are permanently in meshing relation with the worm, said member beingconstituted by a separate spigot disposed between the wheel and the axleand slideable relative to both the wheel and the axle.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of a first preferred embodiment of windowoperating mechanism conforming to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic profile view, partly in section, of an auxiliaryhandle for use with the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view comparable to FIG. 3 but showing the mechanism of FIG.1 after insertion of the handle of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of a second preferred embodiment of windowoperating mechanism conforming to the invention;

FIGS. 6 to 11 constitute an exploded sectional view on the line A-A ofFIG. 5 and illustrate the underlisted parts of the mechanism of FIG. 5:

FIG. 6, a front casing part of the mechanism,

FIG. 7, a worm wheel of the mechanism, FIG. 8, a spring washer of themechanism, FIG. 9, a centering bush of the mechanism,

FIG. 10, a rearcasing part of the mechanism, FIG. 11, a drive pinion ofthe mechanism and an axle of the mechanism;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a worm mounting of the mechanism of FIG.5; 1

FIG. 13 is a rear elevation of a third embodiment of window operatingmechanism conforming to the invention;

FIG. 14 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken onthe line BB of FIG. 16, and in the direction of the arrows BB; I

FIG. 15 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 14 but taken in the directionof the arrows C-C in FIG. 16;

FIG. 16 is a cross-section taken on the line D--D of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a cross-section through a handle usable with the embodimentof FIG. 18;

FIG. 18 is a cross-section through a fourth preferred embodiment ofelectric window operating mechanism conforming to the invention andactuable in the event of breakdown, by the handle of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. [8 but showing the handle of FIG. 17engaged therewith.

Throughout the drawings only essential parts of the various windowoperating mechanisms have been illustrated and parts such as the usualelectric motor and parts of the mechanism attached to the window havebeen omitted for the sake of clarity.

A first preferred embodiment of window operating mechanism isillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 and comprises a fixing plate 1 on which isfixed the customary triggerguard 2, here adapted for centering andlimiting the axial play of a pinion 3 which in known manner, drives atoothed sector (not shown) of the mechanism.

The pinion 3 is coaxial with and integrally formed with an axle which isformed with axially extending grooves. The number of grooves is the sameas the number of teeth of the pinion -3. There have been representedfive grooves, the pinion having five teeth,

but any number of grooves and teeth can be provided I according to theratio of reduction, desired between the pinion and the toothed sector.

The mechanism comprises a speed reducer, in the form of a worm 6, drivenfrom an electric motor (not shown) meshing with a worm wheel 5. The wormwheel 5 has, at its centre an aperture which is profiled complementarilyto the axle 4 after the manner of splines so as to be capable of drivingthe axle 4 and to be capable of sliding therealong. The wheel 5 has acentral integral concentric spigot 7 which centres it in a stampedbearing 8 of its front casing part 9. The wheel 5 and its spigot at 7are biased towards the left, in FIG. 3, by a tapered helical pressurespring 10 between the wheel 5 and a second collar bearing 11 centeringthe other end of the grooved axle 4. The wheel 5 and its spigot7 as wellas the bearing 11 can be made very economically by moulding, for exampleof plastics material such as a superpolyamide.

Illustrated in FIG. 2 is an auxiliary handle 12 which may be used, forexample in the event of breakdown of the electric operating system, toraise and lower the window. The handle 12 is of known constructionexcept that it has'a socket 13 which has an aperture profiledcomplementarily to the axle 4 so as to be slideable onto the groovedaxle'4. As is shown in FIG. 4, pushing of the socket 13 onto the axle 4pushes spigot 7'and thus wheel 5 to the right in FIG. 4 against theaction of the spring 10 and so de-clutches the speed reducer by movingthe wheel 5 clear of the worm 6.

When the socket 13 of the handle 12 has been inserted the mechanism canbe actuated to open or close the window by manually rotating the handle13. Upon withdrawal of the handle 13 the spring 10 once more urges thewheel 5 into engagemett withv the worm 6.

FIGS. 5 to 12 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of windowoperating mechanism conforming to the invention and comprising afixation plate in the form of a front casing part 14 of which a stampedflange 15 centres and forms a bearing for a spigot 16 of a worm wheel 17and a rear casing part 18 comprises another flange l9 centering ashouldered bush 20 which forms a bearing for an axle 23. An elasticwasher turned in flange 1 9 to form a bearing for the axle 23.

As can be seen from FIG. 12 the worm 25 is mounted on a shaft 26 andkeyed thereto by a pin (not shown). On each side of the worm 25 isdisposed one of a pair of bushes 27, 28. The bushes 27, 28 are made fromselflubricating roasted or sintered bronze and fixed by being notched onthe outside thereof and pressed into apertures in lateral walls of thefront casing part 14.

4 Operation of this embodiment is in all respects similar to theoperation of the mechanism of the first embodiment.

In FIGS. 13 to 16, there is illustrated a third embodiment of mechanismconforming to the invention and comprising a speed reducer in the formof a worm and worm wheel 31. The wheel 31 has arcuate shaped teeth onits periphery, these teeth being complementary to the profile of theworm. The wheel 31 is composed of two half-wheels 32 and 33, assembledtogether by rivets 34. The half-wheels 32 and 33 can thus economicallybe made by moulding, for example of plastic material such as asuperpolyamide. A central generally cylindrical cavity 35 is formed inhalf-wheel 32 and a cruciform cavity is formed centrally in half-wheel33. A separately formed spigot 38 is slidably mounted in halfwheel 33and has a cruciform end portion engageable with the cruciform cavity inthe half-wheel 33. Spigot 38 can be moved to the right in FIG. 16,against the spring action of 39 interposed between a cotter-pin 40 and asupport washer 41 to disengage from the cruciform aperture in half-wheel33 and rotate freely in the aperture 35 to de-clutch the wheel 31 fromthe worm.

The cruciform end portion of spigot 38 can be disengaged from thecruciform cavity 36 of half-wheel 33 by pushing on an auxiliary handle,for example in the event of breakdown of the usual electric driver, inthe direction of the arrow fin'order to compress the spring 39, due tothe sliding of the socket 38. The spigot 38 has a key 42 which engagesan internal slot or groove in axle 43 and thus is always in drivingconnection with the axle 43 but can slide therealong.

Thus, in this embodiment, the de-clutching of the speed reducer iseffected not by moving the worm wheel from the worm but by disengagingthe cruciform end portion of spigot 38 from the cruciform cavity inhalf-wheel 33. The wheel 31 is thus always in meshing relation with theworm; this gives a greater mechanical stability to the speed reducer.

Displacement of the spigot is, of course, effected by applying a socketof an auxiliary handle to the left hand end of spigot 38 to cause it tomove to the right (in FIG. 16) the socket then engaging by acomplementary key, with the slot or groove in axle 43 which can then bemanually rotated by means of the inserted auxiliary handle in the eventof breakdownv of the usual electric drive of the mechanism.

A fourth embodiment of mechanism conforming to the invention isillustrated in FIGS. 17 to 19. In this embodiment an auxiliary handle ofthe mechanism (illustrated in FIG. 17) is in the form of a double knobcomprising an inner knob port 51 economically moulded from plasticsmaterial. The port 51 comprises a threaded shaft 52 with a head 53 whichis inserted therein at the time of moulding, whilst the body of thisscrew rotates freely in a central bore of a second outer knob port 54which is likewise moulded from plastics material and which comprises atubular collar 55.

The threaded shaft 52 can be retained longitudinally by a circlip orother clip at the left hand end of the collar 55. Collar 55 comprises atits free end two symmetrical lugs shaped to nest into corresponding gaps57 of a spigot 58 integral with a worm wheel 59. The wheel 59 is formedwith a central aperture which is profiled complementarily to a groovedaxle 60 carrying a pinion 61, as in the first and second embodiments.

The grooved shaft 60 has a central bore 62 which is tappedcomplementarily to the threaded shaft 52 of the inner port 51. Byscrewing port 51 into the axle 60 with the lugs 56 nesting into the gapsin spigot 58 with the spigot 58 and wheel 59 can be moved to the rightin FIG. 18 to de-clutch the worm wheel 59 from the worm 65. The spring64 acts in the same way as the corresponding springs in the previousembodiments and opposes this movement. When the wheel 59 has beendisengaged from the worm 65 the outer port 54 of the auxiliary handlecan be rotated to turn the axle 60 and pinion 61 to raise or lower thewindow.

when inner port 51 is rotated to remove it from the mechanism spring 64returns the worm wheel 59 to its position engaging the worm 65.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoingembodiments and variations may be made thereto within the scope of thefollowing claims, by way of example, a spring 10, 21, 39, 64 can be usedwhich is of a value such that the pressure which it exerts is less thanthat of the dislocation reaction of the worm wheel in relation to theworm, in the event of abnormal resistance. Thus, in this case, if theworm wheel should become jammed the force exerted on it by the worm cancause the worm wheel to disengage from the worm against the action ofthe spring, so lowering the possibility of damaging the mechanism.

It is also possible to provide a couple or torque limiter forde-clutching of the worm wheel and worm in the event of abnormalresistance.

It is possible to substitute for the worm wheel moulded integrally withits spigot, an assembly of a separately moulded wheel and spigot. Thehandle can simply comprise an opening in its flat arm shapedcomplementarily to the grooving of the axle 4 and there being attachedtherearound a simple soldered tube having its internal diametercircumscribing the opening. Many other variations are, of coursepossible.

I claim:

1. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising:

a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel;

an axle co-axial with said worm wheel, said axle being axially groovedon its periphery;

a member rotatably connected to said axle but slideable therealong,against the influence of a spring, to de-clutch the speed reducer toallow manual rotation of the axle in the event of breakdown of the usualelectric drive of the mechanism.

2. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising:

a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel, said wheelhaving a spigot extending from one of its sides;

an axle co-axial with said worm wheel, said axle having a plurality ofgrooves extending longitudinally on the periphery of said axle;

said wheel having a central aperture profiled complementarily to saidaxle so as to be rotatable with said axle but slideable on said axle,against the influence of a spring, to de-clutch the speed reducer toallow manual rotation of the axle in the event of breakdown of the usualelectric drive of the mechanism.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claum2, in combination with an auxiliaryhandle, the handle comprising a collar and an aperture concentric withthe collar and of similar profile to that of the aperture in the wheelso that the collar of the handle can be pressed against the spigot toeffect the sliding of the worm wheel, and the aperture in the handle canengage the axle to enable it to be manually rotated.

4. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising:

a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel;

an axle co-axial with the worm wheel, said axle being axially grooved onits periphery;

said worm wheel being rotatably connected to said axle but slideabletherealong, against the influence of a spring, out of meshing relationwith said worm to de-clutch the speed reducer to allow manual rotationof the axle in the event of breakdown of the usual electric drive of themechanism;

said axle having a treaded axial bore in one end thereof to enable anauxiliary handle to be screwed on said axle to effect said sliding ofsaid worm wheel.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4, in combination with an auxiliaryhandle, said handle comprising:

an inner port having a threaded shaft extending therefrom;

an outer port having a collar theron co-axial with said shaft;

said collar having lugs extending therefrom for nesting in complementarygaps in a spigot of said wheel, so that said inner port can be rotatedto screw its shaft into said bore in said axle and cause said collar tocontact said spigot of said wheel and so move the wheel out of meshingengagement with i said worm, said outer port then being manuallyrotatable to turn said axle.

6. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising:

a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel;

an axle co-axial with said worm wheel, said axle being axially groovedon its periphery;

a casing comprising two casing parts, each provided with a centralflange, said flanges providing guide bearings for the said axle and saidworm wheel;

said worm being mounted on a shaft journalled in two bushes spaced oneon each side of the worm, said "bushes being notched on their outsidesand being pressed into apertures in said casing;

said axle having a shouldered bush thereon provided with a centralaperture profiled complementarily with said axle and located in one ofthe flanges of the housing;

said wheel having a central aperture profiled complementarily to saidaxle so as to be rotatable with said axle but slideable on said axle tode-clutch the speed reducer to allow manual rotation of the axle in theevent of breakdown of the usual electric drive of the mechanism.

7. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising:

a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel, said worm wheelhaving arcuate shaped teeth on its periphery and being permanently inmeshing relation with said worm;

an axle co-axial with said worm wheel;

a spigot disposed between said wheel and said axle, said spigot beingslideable relative to both said wheel and said axle;

said spigot having an end portion which is cruciform;

said wheel being constituted by two half-wheels fastened together, oneof said half-wheels being provided with a central cruciform cavity, andthe other of said half-wheels being provided with a generallycylindrical cavity, the sliding of said spigot causing its cruciform endportion to engage or disengage with the cruciform cavity of said wheelso as to clutch or de-clutch the speed reducer.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein there is a compressionspring disposed between a pin and a support washer, said pin and supportwasher being mounted on said spigot, and wherein said spigot is springbiased into engagement with the cruciform cavity by means of saidcompression spring.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the half-wheels aremoulded from synthetic plastics material to obviate the need formachining.

10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the axlehas an integral pinion at one end thereof, the axle and pinion havingbeen made from a bar of the same cross-section as the pinion by reducingthe diameter of a part of the length of the bar, the grooves in the barbeing thus equal to the number of teeth on the pinion.

11. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure of thespring is lower than that force which arises at the worm when rotationof the worm wheel is impeded so that when the force tending to urge theworm wheel off the worm reaches the value of the pressure of the springthe worm wheel is displaced off the worm against the pressure of thespring so avoiding straining of the mechanism.

1. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising: a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel; an axle co-axial with said worm wheel, said axle being axially grooved on its periphery; a member rotatably connected to said axle but slideable therealong, against the influence of a spring, to de-clutch the speed reducer to allow manual rotation of the axle in the event of breakdown of the usual electric drive of the mechanism.
 2. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising: a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel, said wheel having a spigot extending from one of its sides; an axle co-axial with said worm wheel, said axle having a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally on the periphery of said axle; said wheel having a central aperture profiled complementarily to said axle so as to be rotatable with said axle but slideable on said axle, against the influence of a spring, to de-clutch the speed reducer to allow manual rotation of the axle in the event of breakdown of the usual electric drive of the mechanism.
 3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, in combination with an auxiliary handle, the handle comprising a collar and an aperture concentric with the collar and of similar profile to that of the aperture in the wheel so that the collar of the handle can be pressed against the spigot to effect the sliding of the worm wheel, and the aperture in the handle can engage the axle to enable it to be manually rotated.
 4. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising: a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel; an axle co-axial with the worm wheel, said axle being axially grooved on its periphery; said worm wheel being rotatably connected to said axle but slideable therealong, against the influence of a spring, out of meshing relation with said worm to de-clutch the speed reducer to allow manual rotation of the axle in the event of breakdown of the usual electric drive of the mechanism; said axle having a treaded axial bore in one end thereof to enable an auxiliary handle to be screwed on said axle to effect said sliding of said worm wheel.
 5. A mechanism according to cLaim 4, in combination with an auxiliary handle, said handle comprising: an inner port having a threaded shaft extending therefrom; an outer port having a collar thereon co-axial with said shaft; said collar having lugs extending therefrom for nesting in complementary gaps in a spigot of said wheel, so that said inner port can be rotated to screw its shaft into said bore in said axle and cause said collar to contact said spigot of said wheel and so move the wheel out of meshing engagement with said worm, said outer port then being manually rotatable to turn said axle.
 6. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising: a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel; an axle co-axial with said worm wheel, said axle being axially grooved on its periphery; a casing comprising two casing parts, each provided with a central flange, said flanges providing guide bearings for the said axle and said worm wheel; said worm being mounted on a shaft journalled in two bushes spaced one on each side of the worm, said bushes being notched on their outsides and being pressed into apertures in said casing; said axle having a shouldered bush thereon provided with a central aperture profiled complementarily with said axle and located in one of the flanges of the housing; said wheel having a central aperture profiled complementarily to said axle so as to be rotatable with said axle but slideable on said axle to de-clutch the speed reducer to allow manual rotation of the axle in the event of breakdown of the usual electric drive of the mechanism.
 7. An electric window operating mechanism, comprising: a speed reducer in the form of a worm and a worm wheel, said worm wheel having arcuate shaped teeth on its periphery and being permanently in meshing relation with said worm; an axle co-axial with said worm wheel; a spigot disposed between said wheel and said axle, said spigot being slideable relative to both said wheel and said axle; said spigot having an end portion which is cruciform; said wheel being constituted by two half-wheels fastened together, one of said half-wheels being provided with a central cruciform cavity, and the other of said half-wheels being provided with a generally cylindrical cavity, the sliding of said spigot causing its cruciform end portion to engage or disengage with the cruciform cavity of said wheel so as to clutch or de-clutch the speed reducer.
 8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein there is a compression spring disposed between a pin and a support washer, said pin and support washer being mounted on said spigot, and wherein said spigot is spring biased into engagement with the cruciform cavity by means of said compression spring.
 9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the half-wheels are moulded from synthetic plastics material to obviate the need for machining.
 10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the axle has an integral pinion at one end thereof, the axle and pinion having been made from a bar of the same cross-section as the pinion by reducing the diameter of a part of the length of the bar, the grooves in the bar being thus equal to the number of teeth on the pinion.
 11. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure of the spring is lower than that force which arises at the worm when rotation of the worm wheel is impeded so that when the force tending to urge the worm wheel off the worm reaches the value of the pressure of the spring the worm wheel is displaced off the worm against the pressure of the spring so avoiding straining of the mechanism. 